More police needed on Qld island: coroner

A Queensland coroner has called for a review of speed zones and an increase in the number of permanent police on Russell Island after the death of a teenage skateboarder, who was struck by a drunk driver.

George Holford served nine months of a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death of 14-year-old Ethan Stephenson on the island, south of Brisbane, in June 2014.

The teen died from head injuries caused by the crash at 5.15pm, when Holford was driving faster than the 60km/h speed limit.

During an inquest in the Brisbane Coroners Court late last year, Holford said he didn't remember seeing the boy before he ran him down.

He told the court he had had four or five full-strength beer cans in the two hours before he got in the car, and denied driving erratically or speeding excessively.

Coroner John Hutton delivered his findings on Wednesday, revealing he had received an "unprecedented" number of letters from current and former island residents with safety concerns.

Mr Hutton made a number of recommendations to government and authorities to improve road safety.

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He urged the Queensland Police Service to boost permanent police staffing, provide staff training to improve speed enforcement efforts and to increase enforcement.

He also called on the Redland City Council to review speed zones, and for the Department of Transport and Main Roads to introduce a public bus service.

Meanwhile, the state government has been asked to prohibit skateboards, scooters, and similar wheeled devices from all public roads, or at least enforce the use of helmets and reflective clothing or lights at night.